Universal battery terminal post clamp



May 3, 1960 E. B. RAYMOND UNIVERSAL BATTERY TERMINAL POST CLAMP Filed June 22, 1959 1 19 IS 27 INVENTOR.

8 El/'WEER/QYMOND BY M45 401 ATTOIQIVEVJ.

United States Patent UNIVERSAL BATTERY TERMENAL POST CLAMP Eugene B. Raymond, Skoltie, ill. Application June 22, B59, Serial No. 822,613 3 Claims. ((325339-231) My invention reiates to a universal battery. terminal post clamp. By the term universal, 1 imply that the conductor wire or cable from the clamp can be connected at different radial and lateral positions with respect to the clamp according to the requirements of desirability and surrounding circumstances.

' One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a clamp which will be simplein structure, economical in manufacture and one which can be assembled with a minimum requirement of labor.

Another and equally important object ofthis invention is the provision of a connector for connecting a conductor wire or cable to a clamp in which the connector has a portion interlocked between the clamp and the terminal post of the battery thereby providing simple means for securely connecting the connector to the clamp and post.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. V

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. 1

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

tion;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector embodied in the invention; a

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a terminal post showing my invention associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

'Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connector embodied in the-form shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a terminal post showing the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 associated therewith.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, my invention comprises a clamp 10, the main body portion 11 of which, is circular in plan view and is of the slit-type providing lateral lugs 12 connected together by a nut-bearing clamping bolt 13.

The clamp as well as the bolt 13 is formed of such material as will best serve the purpose. The central bore Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invenaccessories may be had with the storage battery. The

14 of the body 10 is tapered upwardly and inwardly to conform to the shape of the terminal post 15 of a battery 16.

Formed radially with respect to each other and in the inner surface '17 of the body 11 are vertical grooves18 which terminate at their lower end portions into laterally extending recesses 19. As shown in Fig. 1 there are three of such grooves.

The connector for connecting the conductor or wire or cable 20 to the post 15 comprises a U-shaped member providing opposite legs 21 and 22. The leg 22 fits into any one ofthe grooves 18 and the lower end portion thereof is turned outwardly as at 23 to engage in the recess '19 of the groove into which the leg 21 is positioned. By this arrangement when the clamp 10 is wire or cable 20 may be connected to the connector by either of the threaded studs 25 thereby to accommodate itself to surrounding conditions.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive the clamp 10' is of the same construction as the clamp it of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The difierence in construction resides in the connector. in this form of the construction the connector provides a leg 26 which is similar to the leg 21 and like the leg 21 is mounted in one of the grooves 18 with its inturned end portion 27 fitting into the recess 19. Extending from the leg 26 is a horizontal extension '28 which comprises together with a plate 29 a clamp between which the end portion 30 of the wire or cable 31 is connected. The two plates 28 and 29 are clamped together with the end portion 30 of the cable 31 therebetween by a pair of threaded bolts 32. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 4 there may be employed at least three connectors two of which may be used for connecting accessory conductor wires to the post.

It appears from the foregoing that my invention is of simple construction capable of being assembled upon the terminal post with a minimum degree of effort.

The terminal clamp connector embodied in the inven tion provides a plurality of points of connection for conductor wires.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A universal battery terminal post clamp comprising a clamping member adapted for clamping embracement with the post and having a vertically extending groove formed in the side thereof opposite the vertical surface of the post, a conductor wire connector formed substantially U-shaped to provide a leg portion arranged to fit in the groove and a second leg portion spaced from the connector, said first named leg portion having an outwardly turned end portion and said member having a recessed portion to receive said outwardly turned portion, and means carried by said connector for optionally connecting a conductor wire at at least two positions with respect to the connector.

2. A universal battery terminal post clamp as defined in claim l'in which the means for connecting said con nector wire optionally to said points comprises wing nut stud screws threaded into said connector at said points.

3. A universal battery terminal post clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the means for connecting the conductor wire to the connector comprises confronting clamping plates and threaded means for connecting said plates together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

